Amelia—still caught
between life and death—must fight for every moment of her relationship
with the human boy Joshua. They can hardly even kiss without Amelia
accidentally dematerializing. Looking for answers, they go to visit some
of Joshua’s Seer relatives in New Orleans. But even in a city so
famously steeped in the supernatural, Amelia ends up with more questions
than answers…and becomes increasingly convinced that she and Joshua can
never have a future together.Wandering through the French Quarter,
Amelia meets other in-between ghosts, and begins to seriously consider
joining them. And then she meets Gabrielle. Somehow, against impossible
odds, Gaby has found a way to live a sort of half-life...a half-life for
which Amelia would pay any price. Torn between two worlds, Amelia must
choose carefully, before the evil spirits of the netherworld choose for
her.

ARISE Continues with Amelia stuck between life and death and in love with Joshua. They take a trip to New Orleans to visit Joshua's relatives and Amelia ends up meeting someone that changes her from a ghost who can touch Joshua to a half alive girl that can touch everything but Joshua.

I didn't enjoy ARISE as much as HEREAFTER, I just couldn't get into the story. For half of the book Amelia actually isn't even with Joshua. She leaves him for his own protection while she runs from the darkness that is still chasing her so there isn't much romance. We meet Gabrielle and although she starts out as someone you might not like she ended up being pretty cool and I would like to see more of her in future books. The setting was ok. I love New Orleans so having characters running around it especially with ghosts is understandable. Most of Joshua's young relatives annoyed me and as soon as Amelia and Joshua got into their car to drive home at the end of the book I was relieved to not have to deal with them anymore.

Now that Amelia is visual to everyone but not able to touch Joshua I assume the tragic love story will turn more tragic in book 3. Not sure if I will pick up ELERGY when it comes out but the story has been interesting enough so far.